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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Janet Street Porter on the mumsnet 'mafia'

197 replies

atlantis · 15/02/2010 03:36

It seems Ms Porter doesn't like mumsnet

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1251003/JANET-STREET-PORTER-This-smug-Mumsnet-mafia-wont-vote.htm l

OP posts:
FioFio · 15/02/2010 11:39

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StayingDavidTennantsGirl · 15/02/2010 11:41

If you have to be a Boden-wearing, yummy mummy to post here, then I had better leave pronto!! I look like the back end of a bus, and couldn't fit into a single Boden item (except perhaps the shoes).

Can someone advise me on the correct parenting site for an overweight, somewhat frumpy, Evans-wearing mum of teenagers to join?

AitchTwoOhOneOh · 15/02/2010 11:45

netmums.

LedodgyChristmasjumper · 15/02/2010 11:50

I'd never heard of Boden before I joined here.

FioFio · 15/02/2010 11:51

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LedodgyChristmasjumper · 15/02/2010 11:58

arf Shut up yer Brummie caaaw.

franke · 15/02/2010 12:04

How disappointing. I usually enjoy reading her stuff. Why is it with these bloody journos that everything has to be so black and white and either or? "Ditch the yummy mummies in favour of divorced over 40s" Hasn't she heard of a Venn diagram - does it not occur to her that there might be some overlap there? Cheap article full of cheap shots.

Lutyens · 15/02/2010 12:28

Strange that no journalist ever writes scathing reviews of netmums or bounty or babycentre or the doozens of other parenting forums. What is it about MN that makes them so cross? Is it because we talk about things other than babies (shock, horror) and that is soooo not the done thing. After all, cupcakes don't bake themselves, do they?

FioFio · 15/02/2010 12:29

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morningpaper · 15/02/2010 12:50

The dress code should have been "Boden & Tarts"

or "Tarts & Cupcakes"

they should put ME in charge of everything

wheresmypaddle · 15/02/2010 13:08

Oh dear I think JSP has not done her research very well. Am very disappointed in her- sounds like she has read a few other recent reports about MN rather than taking time to look into it herself- sorry JSP but you are badly informed and your piece is lazy journalism (in my opinion, of course). A couple of points are fair but I really disagree on others

  1. We are all different- any visitor to this site can see that (FWIW I have no Boden). Parenting styles, political views, working status, marital status etc etc- all vary widely.
  1. The bullying and trivial subject matter is not the whole story. Yes there is some of both but if JSP looked more closely she would see how supportive MN has been to some of us through really difficult times. MNetters have held each others hands through the trails of getting pregnant, parenting problems, relationship disasters, bereavement, depression..... The list is endless and it makes me so angry that on the same weekend that she wrote her slagging off piece, one wonderful MNer arrived at the home of another MNer and provided some much needed support (all arranged via MN) at a really difficult time.
  1. The Boden thing was a joke.
  1. There are a few bullies but they usually get shouted down by the reasonable folk- and there are certainally a few poeople who speak their mind without a care for the consiquences- we need those people to keep the place interesting. They are balanced by the more mild timid ones (that's me usually).

So JSP, do your research next time- have a look around the place and you will find plenty of good things to say about MN to balance things out.

sarah293 · 15/02/2010 13:08

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AitchTwoOhOneOh · 15/02/2010 13:11

if she posted here she would rule us all within the week, i think. the campers would be all agog at her hardiness, the stylers would love her way with a japanese garm and the schlebbers would hang on her every word.

she'd be like the uber-cod.

FioFio · 15/02/2010 13:19

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morningpaper · 15/02/2010 13:22

Who win in a fight: JSP or cod? I am not so sure

VinegarTits · 15/02/2010 13:23

Maybe JSP is Cod

Docbunches · 15/02/2010 13:28

I agree about the general bullying and unnecessary belligerence on MN. I never post on anything in the slightest bit controversial now and don't really post much at all.

On the other hand, some of the supportive posts make me cry.

GetOrfMoiLand · 15/02/2010 13:29

Lol at JSP = cod.

franke · 15/02/2010 13:31

Oh JSP of course mp. Cod is a softy underneath those scratchy, fishy scales.

Okay, having calmed down I suppose she's only writing for her market. She'd never get away with tripe like this in the Indie

wheresmypaddle · 15/02/2010 13:33

FioFio - fair point, seems a bit strange that she has been invited. Maybe its because she's seen as a straight talking, no-nonsense (until that article) person- like lots of Mners. Or maybe because MNHQ wanted to highlight that despite its name MNet has lots of non-child related stuff and many members are not parents.

I can't quite grasp what the focus of the MN party is- I would have expected it to be about 'us' members of MN rather than journalists etc.. I have obviously missed the point (again)!

morningpaper · 15/02/2010 13:39

"Boden and suspenders" that would be a better dress code

also those dresses are perfect for wearing suspenders underneath

debka · 15/02/2010 13:44

Just to stick my oar in- I lived next door to JSP for a while and she was as awful in the flesh as she is in the papers... Used to hear her and her boyfriend shrieking at each other...

foxinsocks · 15/02/2010 13:45

aitch is already invited Fio cos she is a secret media tartlet like mp ;-)

I think she's quite fab JSP and it's hysterical she was invited. She'd probably never seen mumsnet before!

FioFio · 15/02/2010 13:51

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morningpaper · 15/02/2010 14:02

am not a secret media tartlet!

am complete out-and-out 'ho